Inaccurate labels lead to portion problems

Those of us who are trying to eat healthfully tend to base our dietary decisions on both hunger and the information available to us at a given time. In other words, we will sometimes give in if we really want a package of peanut M&Ms, but for most products, we'll read the nutritional information before making a decision. Whether you follow a diet of your own making or one of the mainstream diets, the most important piece of information on the package is the portion size, which allows you to see how many calories or how much fat you might be taking in.

But how far can that be trusted? A recent blogger's look at the Snickers Almond bar revealed that the bar was 14% larger than the packaged claimed - weighing in at 2.0-oz instead of the promised 1.76-oz. This adds value, but it adds calories and fat, as well.

There are two ways to combat this problem. First, you can make sure you're getting the proper portion size. With multiple-serving packages, you can measure out the portion sizes if you want to be accurate, but it can be a hassle with single-serving foods, which might have to be weighed. The second solution is to build in a cushion, giving yourself a little extra leeway in your daily diet to account for days when you are, unwittingly, going over your target.